Paper cutting assist

Abstract

A paper cutting assist (10) for holding paper sheets (28) when they are being cut with scissors (64) comprises a relatively flat lid-jaw block (12) and a relatively flat base-jaw block (14) which are hinged together along hinge edges (20, 22) thereof and which include a lid-block jaw non-slip layer (32) mounted on a lid-jaw paper-gripping surface (24) and a base support non-slip layer (32) on a flat raised base support surface (26). The lid and base blocks are constructed of sufficiently heavy material that the non-slip layers prevent movement of the paper-cutting assist on the floor surface (54) and movement of a paper sheet (28) placed between the paper gripping surfaces of the lid and base blocks. Attracting magnets (38, 40, 42 and 44) can be placed in the lid and base blocks for providing additional bias to hold the blocks together.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege are claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A paper cutting assist for holding paper sheets when they are being cut, said paper cutting assist comprising: a relatively flat substantially rectangularly shaped lid block defining a flat lid-jaw paper gripping surface on one side thereof;   a relatively flat substantially rectangularly shaped base block defining a flat base support surface on a first side thereof for supporting said base jaw block from a floor surface and a flat base-jaw paper-gripping surface on an opposite side thereof both said lid block and said base block having substantially solid interiors, each having approximately the same length and width dimensions as the other, with the width dimensions being at least 40% of the length dimension so that outer edges of the lid and base blocks are relatively even to each other;   a hinge means for hingedly attaching said lid-jaw block to said base-jaw block at hinge edges of said lid- and base-jaw blocks for allowing said lid- and base-jaw blocks to freely pivot relative to one another such that said flat lid- and bottom-jaw paper gripping surfaces can be closed on one another to be approximately in parallel contact one-to-the-other, and so that they can be pivoted away from one another;   a separate jaw non-slip layer of non-slip material mounted on one of said lid- and base-jaw paper-gripping surfaces for contacting a paper sheet placed between said lid- and base-jaw paper-gripping surfaces when they are closed on one another to inhibit relative sliding between said paper sheet and said lid- and base-jaw paper-gripping surfaces; and,   a base support non-slip layer of non-slip material mounted on said flat base support surface for contacting said floor surface to inhibit relative sliding between said floor surface and said flat base support surface;   wherein said lid- and base-blocks are constructed of a sufficiently heavy material such that when said base support surface with said base support non-slip layer is resting on said floor surface and said flat lid-jaw paper-gripping surface is closed on said base jaw paper-gripping surface, with a sheet of paper therebetween, the weight of said lid- and base-jaw members maintains said paper holder stationary on said floor surface and maintains said sheet stationary in said paper holder to allow a user to cut the paper sheet with scissors.   
     
     
       2. A paper cutting assist as in claim 1, wherein both said lid-jaw paper-gripping surface and said base-jaw paper-gripping surface have jaw non-slipping layers of non-slip material mounted thereon. 
     
     
       3. A paper cutting assist as in claim 2, wherein is further including an additional bias means for biasing said lid block toward said base block for helping to hold said sheet of paper therebetween. 
     
     
       4. A paper cutting assist as in claim 3, wherein said additional bias means comprises magnets mounted in said lid and base blocks for attracting one another. 
     
     
       5. A paper cutting assist as in claim 1, wherein is further including an additional bias means for biasing said lid block toward said base block for helping to hold said sheet of paper therebetween. 
     
     
       6. A paper cutting assist as in claim 5, wherein said additional bias means comprises magnets mounted in said lid and base blocks for attracting one another. 
     
     
       7. A paper cutting assist as in claim 1, wherein the length of said rectangular lid and base blocks is between eight and nine inches. 
     
     
       8. A paper cutting assist as in claim 7, wherein are further included gripping means mounted at edges of said lid and base blocks opposite said hinge edges for aiding in separating the two blocks. 
     
     
       9. A paper cutting assist as in claim 1, wherein are further included gripping means mounted at edges of said lid and base blocks opposite said hinge edges for aiding in separating the two blocks. 
     
     
       10. A paper cutting assist as in claim 1, wherein said base-block has a thickness between approximately 1/4 inch to 1 inch in order to allow a scissors jaw to easily pass between said floor surface and said paper sheet held in said paper cutting assist.